working up loads for whitetail in my 6.5 Grendel, bolt gun, 22" 8 twist. My first loads with 25.0 grains of Tac under a 130 gr Berger VLD "hunting" bullet only got 2145 fps. Is this enough to insure consistent kills out to 300yds?
Range Report 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
- Thread starter Buzzsaw
- Start date
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
With a powder like RL15, or W748, you should be able to load up to about 2500 fps, at around 55K lbs-psi.
With a powder like RL15, or W748, you should be able to load up to about 2500 fps, at around 55K lbs-psi.
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
Thanks MontanaMarine, I'm also going to try some IMR XBR 8082, it says it should scoot the Berger up. It shot very accurate and is a great killer.
Thanks MontanaMarine, I'm also going to try some IMR XBR 8082, it says it should scoot the Berger up. It shot very accurate and is a great killer.
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
Buzzsaw,
You could probably load that TAC up to about 27 gr. for better velocity. 2400-2500ish? That's using that 130 gr. bullet.
You can expect to get up to 2550 out of a 24" barrel and 2400 at least out of a 20" barrel using the AA2520.
What barrel length do you have BTW?
If you want flatter shooting you might look into using a 100 gr. bullet and push it out at 2800-2900. That's plenty of energy to kill a deer and much flatter trajectory. You don't have to hold high to get to 300 yds.
Buzzsaw,
You could probably load that TAC up to about 27 gr. for better velocity. 2400-2500ish? That's using that 130 gr. bullet.
You can expect to get up to 2550 out of a 24" barrel and 2400 at least out of a 20" barrel using the AA2520.
What barrel length do you have BTW?
If you want flatter shooting you might look into using a 100 gr. bullet and push it out at 2800-2900. That's plenty of energy to kill a deer and much flatter trajectory. You don't have to hold high to get to 300 yds.
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
AR w/21" barrel, 8 twist, 130 JLK at 2.475" OAL, AA brass, and BR4.
27.3 gr - 2360 fps
27.8 gr shot best group. Unable to find my chronograph data for that load at moment. Best guess is right at 2400 fps.
120 Berger Match BT with H4895:
27.2 - 2338
27.5 - 2407
27.8 - 2428
28.1 - 2454
N530 would be ideal for the 130 Berger.
What is your OAL with the 130 Berger?
AR w/21" barrel, 8 twist, 130 JLK at 2.475" OAL, AA brass, and BR4.
27.3 gr - 2360 fps
27.8 gr shot best group. Unable to find my chronograph data for that load at moment. Best guess is right at 2400 fps.
120 Berger Match BT with H4895:
27.2 - 2338
27.5 - 2407
27.8 - 2428
28.1 - 2454
N530 would be ideal for the 130 Berger.
What is your OAL with the 130 Berger?
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
Just did a quick check over the chronograph.
AA brass, BR4, 130 JLK at 2.475" OAL, and N-530.
25.5 - 2325
25.8 - 2387
26.1 - 2425
26.4 - 2437
26.7 - 2469
27.0 - 2496
27.3 - 2524
27.6 - 2553
One rd each, just to get idea of velocity and pressure in my rifle/chamber.
Data was from 21", 8 twist, AR.
Just did a quick check over the chronograph.
AA brass, BR4, 130 JLK at 2.475" OAL, and N-530.
25.5 - 2325
25.8 - 2387
26.1 - 2425
26.4 - 2437
26.7 - 2469
27.0 - 2496
27.3 - 2524
27.6 - 2553
One rd each, just to get idea of velocity and pressure in my rifle/chamber.
Data was from 21", 8 twist, AR.
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
Buzzsaw,
Sorry, had to go back and re-read your post. You can get a lot more out of a bolt gun than you can an AR. Just because you can use slower powders that won't make the port pressure too high. run that baby up until you start to see flattening of the primers.
Buzzsaw,
Sorry, had to go back and re-read your post. You can get a lot more out of a bolt gun than you can an AR. Just because you can use slower powders that won't make the port pressure too high. run that baby up until you start to see flattening of the primers.
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
I'd expect to see more out of a bolt rifle than an AR. Problem is, you run out of case capacity going with slower powders (extruded).
AA2520 drives 120 Berger Match BT gives me just over 2600 fps w/30.8 gr.
I'm getting same velocity with 28.3 gr of N-530. Primers are starting to get pretty flat.
Whole point of the quick n dirty test w/N-530 & AR was to show that 2500+ fps via a bolt rifle is more than doable.
Benchmark, N-135, maybe H4895 if you can squeeze enough into case are viable options for stick powders. N-530 is best choice for stick powder.
Ball powder AA2520 has worked well for me. I've ran as much as 31.8 gr but 30.8gr shot the best (tested out to 600 yards). BL-C2, W748 or similar would be worth testing as well.
I do not have TAC so unable to comment on that powder.
100 fps or so more from bolt rifle than I'm seeing from AR is my best estimate,
I'd expect to see more out of a bolt rifle than an AR. Problem is, you run out of case capacity going with slower powders (extruded).
AA2520 drives 120 Berger Match BT gives me just over 2600 fps w/30.8 gr.
I'm getting same velocity with 28.3 gr of N-530. Primers are starting to get pretty flat.
Whole point of the quick n dirty test w/N-530 & AR was to show that 2500+ fps via a bolt rifle is more than doable.
Benchmark, N-135, maybe H4895 if you can squeeze enough into case are viable options for stick powders. N-530 is best choice for stick powder.
Ball powder AA2520 has worked well for me. I've ran as much as 31.8 gr but 30.8gr shot the best (tested out to 600 yards). BL-C2, W748 or similar would be worth testing as well.
I do not have TAC so unable to comment on that powder.
100 fps or so more from bolt rifle than I'm seeing from AR is my best estimate,
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FCS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd expect to see more out of a bolt rifle than an AR. Problem is, you run out of case capacity going with slower powders (extruded).
AA2520 drives 120 Berger Match BT gives me just over 2600 fps w/30.8 gr.
I'm getting same velocity with 28.3 gr of N-530. Primers are starting to get pretty flat.
Whole point of the quick n dirty test w/N-530 & AR was to show that 2500+ fps via a bolt rifle is more than doable.
Benchmark, N-135, maybe H4895 if you can squeeze enough into case are viable options for stick powders. N-530 is best choice for stick powder.
Ball powder AA2520 has worked well for me. I've ran as much as 31.8 gr but 30.8gr shot the best (tested out to 600 yards). BL-C2, W748 or similar would be worth testing as well.
I do not have TAC so unable to comment on that powder.
100 fps or so more from bolt rifle than I'm seeing from AR is my best estimate,</div></div>
FCS,
Good info. I should've said being in a bolt gun it takes off all the parameters that restrict you with the AR. Because you're at the top of the rifles operating parameters. He might try loading up more of a slightly faster single base powder instead of the double base. I had great results from H4895 using the large rifle primer cases.
This being in a bolt gun opens up a whole new can of options.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FCS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd expect to see more out of a bolt rifle than an AR. Problem is, you run out of case capacity going with slower powders (extruded).
AA2520 drives 120 Berger Match BT gives me just over 2600 fps w/30.8 gr.
I'm getting same velocity with 28.3 gr of N-530. Primers are starting to get pretty flat.
Whole point of the quick n dirty test w/N-530 & AR was to show that 2500+ fps via a bolt rifle is more than doable.
Benchmark, N-135, maybe H4895 if you can squeeze enough into case are viable options for stick powders. N-530 is best choice for stick powder.
Ball powder AA2520 has worked well for me. I've ran as much as 31.8 gr but 30.8gr shot the best (tested out to 600 yards). BL-C2, W748 or similar would be worth testing as well.
I do not have TAC so unable to comment on that powder.
100 fps or so more from bolt rifle than I'm seeing from AR is my best estimate,</div></div>
FCS,
Good info. I should've said being in a bolt gun it takes off all the parameters that restrict you with the AR. Because you're at the top of the rifles operating parameters. He might try loading up more of a slightly faster single base powder instead of the double base. I had great results from H4895 using the large rifle primer cases.
This being in a bolt gun opens up a whole new can of options.
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
You guys are great and have forgot more about this stuff than I'll ever know and I've been doing it for a long time. I just put up pictures under the bolt rifles section. You can see my first attempt at groups.
You guys are great and have forgot more about this stuff than I'll ever know and I've been doing it for a long time. I just put up pictures under the bolt rifles section. You can see my first attempt at groups.
Re: 6.5 Grendel velocity...enough?
Buzzsaw,
That is one beautiful rifle! The groups look pretty nice as well. Especially #'s 5 and 6.
In that bolt action you might try a box of Federal 7.62x39 brass. If you can't find the brass just buy the box of loaded ammo. Pull the bullets and save the powder in a small cup. You can use that to fireform. FL size the brass (remove the primer pin but keep the button on the stem). Measure what was in each case and put that back. Stuff some 120's (cheap) in there and fireform.
The larger primer hole allows the ignition process to go off faster. This means you can make more use out of slower burning powders.
Buzzsaw,
That is one beautiful rifle! The groups look pretty nice as well. Especially #'s 5 and 6.
In that bolt action you might try a box of Federal 7.62x39 brass. If you can't find the brass just buy the box of loaded ammo. Pull the bullets and save the powder in a small cup. You can use that to fireform. FL size the brass (remove the primer pin but keep the button on the stem). Measure what was in each case and put that back. Stuff some 120's (cheap) in there and fireform.
The larger primer hole allows the ignition process to go off faster. This means you can make more use out of slower burning powders.
